Chapter 76: CHAPTER 75

•••

Darwaze par dastak de kar  ijazat milte hi Hammad andar aa gaya tha. Azam Shirazi night gown mein malboos, ek file haath mein liye bed par baithe the. Mulazim chai ka cup aur paani ka glass side table par rakh raha tha. Us par nazar parte hi unhone file rakh di, glasses utaar diye. Mulazim ishara milte hi ja chuka to furst se uski taraf mutawajje hue.

"Main aap se sorry kehne aaya hoon."

Azam Shirazi chand lamho tak usey dekhte rahe.

"Maine bohat ghalat kiya hai, mujhe aap ki baat maan ni chahiye thi." Wo sharminda lag raha tha.

Wo pichle ek mah se musalsal usey nazar andaz kar rahe the. Dono ke maabain khane ki mez par koi baat nahi hoti thi. Aao-jang ka program nahi banta tha. Ek dosre ko waqt dene ki routine khatam ho chuki thi.

Wo us se itna naraz hue the ke khud se mukhatib bhi nahi karte the.

Iske liye yeh sab na-qabil-e-bardasht tha. Is tarah ke the aur narazgi ka samna wo pehli baar kar raha tha. Kitni baar usne mazrat ki koshish ki thi magar wo mauka nahi de rahe the. Apne karobari mamlat mein is qadar masroof rehne lage the ke ab ghar bhi dair se aane lage the. Azam Shirazi kuch dair tak usey dekhte rahe. Phir usey apne paas baithne ka ishara kiya. Wo baith gaya magar sar hanuz jhuka hua tha.

"Apni position aur status ke lehaz se tumhain andaza hona chahiye tha ke tumhara ek ghalat faisla, ek ghalat mutalba sirf tumhare liye hi nahi balki hum sab ke liye kitne bade masail khade kar sakta hai."

Hammad ka sar jhuka raha.

"Tumhe mera hukum manna chahiye tha," aur ab wo usey samjha rahe the.

Unka lehja mamool ki tarah ab naram tha. Ta'ssurat mein sakhti na thi. Khafgi ka koi shaiba na tha. Wo unhein khamoshi se sun raha tha. Usey andaza tha ke us se kitni bari ghalti hui thi. Usne apne dada ka hukum nahi mana tha. Unka aitmad toda tha. Magar yahan koi aur baat thi jo usey dukhi kar rahi thi. Uske andar ke itminaan ko salb kar rahi thi.

Wo usey samjha kar khamosh hue to usne sar utha kar unhein dekha. Lamhe bhar ke liye kuch socha.

"Is he important to you?"

Andar kahin sulagte angaaron ki si tapish thi.

"Who?"

"Faris."

Azam Shirazi ne gardan mor kar usey dekha. Aankhon mein lamhe bhar ke liye herat utri thi. Hammad ka sawal hi aisa tha.

"Kya wo Faris ki haqeeqat jaan gaya hai?"

"Tum se zyada aham mere liye aur koi nahi ho sakta."

"Lekin aap ne yeh nahi kaha ke wo important nahi hai."

Azam Shirazi lamhe bhar ke liye thehre. Nazar utha kar apne satrah saal ke potay ko dekha. Uska sawal, andaz, aur lehja... uski aankhe kisi gehri soch ki ghamaz lag rahi thi. Wo androoni khalafshar ka shikar lag raha tha.

"Why are you comparing yourself with him?" Unhone mutahammil ho kar poocha tha. Unke pote ke zehan mein Faris Wajdan kaise aagaya tha? Wo uske sath apna muqabla kyun kar raha tha?

“Kyunke aap…” Hammad kuch kehte kehte ruk gaya. Wo us din ka hawala dena chahta tha jab use daat pari thi. Jab Azam Shirazi ne us par awaz buland ki thi. Jab us par gussa dikhaya tha. Aur phir poore ek mah tak, wo naraz hi rahe the. Usne himmat jama karke unse keh diya, wo sab jo is arse mein uske zehan mein chal raha tha.

“Yeh sab us ladke ki wajah se nahi tha,” unhone sanjeedgi se kaha. Chehre ke ta’assuraat hamesha ki tarah sapat, awaz mazboot thi. “Tumhari yeh ghalti mamooli nahi thi. Tumne apne liye khatra mol liya tha aur main is par aise hi react kar sakta tha.”

Wo apne dada ko dekh raha tha. “Un logo ka target tum the. Agar unhein zara si bhi bhanak parti ke tum kisi gaari mein safar kar rahe ho to Aaj…?”

Unhone apni baat adhuri chor di. Hammad ko apni ghalti ka ehsaas hua. Usey apne dada ka gussa, narazgi jaise ab behtareen tor par samajh aa rahi thi. Usne Faris se pehle khud apni zindagi ko khatre mein dala tha. Usey khushi thi ke wo uske ilawa kisi aur ke liye fikarmand nahi the.

Wo jaanta tha Faris nami ladka unki hi kafaalt mein tha. Unki hi wajah se Shirazi Mansion mein rehta tha. Wo ladka uski mummy ke liye bhi ahem tha. Wo kabhi samajh nahi paaya tha ke wo usey itni ahmiyat kyun deti thi. Doosre mulazimo ki nisbat unki tamam tar tawajjo sirf us ek ladke par kyun rehti thi. Wo iske maamle mein class ka farq tak bhool jaati thi. Mehngi se mehngi cheez us ladke ki dastaras mein hoti thi. Har woh cheez jis par uska haq tha, har woh cheez jo uske status ke hisaab se sirf us par jachti thi, wohi cheez Faris Wajdan ke paas hua karti thi.

Teen saal pehle tak wo yeh farq apni aankho se dekhta aaya tha. Teen saal baad wo yeh farq ek baar phir dekh raha tha. Aur usey yeh sab bilkul acha nahi laga tha. Mummy fikr aur dada ki narazgi Yahi wajah thi ke uske ehsasat aag jese hote rahe the.

Magar ab usne dekha tha ke dada ke andaz aur lehje mein us ladke ke liye koi fikr nahi thi. Unhone ab to uska zikar bhi nahi kiya tha, na pehle kisi tafseel se aagahi di thi, na ab de rahe the.

Dada Faris nami is ladke ko is behas se mukammal tor par kharij kar chuke the. Hammad ko aik dum se tasalli ka ehsaas hua. Dada jhoot nahi bolte the. Unki fikr sirf uske liye thi. Khauf sirf uske liye tha. Mohabbat sirf uske liye thi. Bhala ek mulazim ladke ke sath uska kya muqabla?

Wo kitna bewakoof tha. Kitna ghalat soch raha tha. Uske ta’assuraat aik dum se behtar ho gaye. Aankho se uljhan mafqud ho gayi. Dil mein gussa nahi raha.

Wo mutmain ho kar chala gaya tha. Glasses aankho par lagate, Azam Shirazi ne apni file dobara uthai thi. Zehan lamhe bhar ke liye baheka tha. Soch kisi aur taraf chali gayi thi. Sign karte karte wo ruk gaye the.

Sar jhatak kar phir se file study karne lage the.

•••

Usey woh tareeki yaad thi magar agwa karne walon ke chehre yaad nahi the. Unki baatein zehan mein goonjti thi lekin ab samajh nahi aati thi. Manzar jhalakiyo mein ubharte the, kabhi khuli aankhon mein khwab ka roop dhaar lete. Har baar woh kahin qaid hota. Cheekhte chhilate hue kisi ko bula raha hota.

Qaid andhera aur bandhe hue haath.

Goliyo ki awaaze, aur phir khamoshi. Usey baatein yaad nahi aa rahi thi. Usey chehre bhoolte jaa rahe the.

Yeh duao ka asar nahi tha, na hi side effects ka koi dakhal tha. Uska dimagh hifazati diware bana raha tha. Kuch waqt, halat, aur waqiyat ko mita-ta ja raha tha. Manzar dhundle ho rahe the. Baate marham ho rahi thi. Sab yaad hotay huay bhi wo bohot kuch bhoolta ja raha tha.

Wo ek mah hospital mein raha aur is dauran yahi sab hota raha. Ab wo ghar mein tha aur yeh sab phir se ho raha tha. Wo phir se na samajh mein aane wali is kefiyat par ro raha tha. Wo khauf jo uski rooh kheech raha tha. Wo dard jo ang ang se uthta hua mehsoos ho raha tha.

Darwaza khul gaya. Dabe qadmo ke sath koi chalta hua andar aa gaya. Oopar ki manzil ki tamam battiya roshan ho chuki thi. Agha Ali darwaze mein ruk gaya tha. Jamila Daud uske paas aa gayi thi. Uska kamra har waqt roshan rehta tha magar wo phir bhi andhero mein ghir jata tha.

Guzishta ek mah se wo jinhe musalsal nazar andaz kar raha tha, jinse koi baat nahi kar raha tha, jinhe apne qareeb aane nahi de raha tha, to is lamhe bawajood himmat aur koshish ke wo unhein khud se door nahi kar saka. Unki aaghosh mein ek sukoon tha. Unke hisaar mein aaraam tha. Unka lams zakhmo par marham tha. Wo hospital mein tha tab bhi wo us se milne aati rahi thi. Ghar par tha to yahan bhi. Aksar auqat raat mein bhi thehr jaati thi. Wo apna waqt aur routine kaise poora kar rahi thi, wo nahi jaanta tha. Azam Shirazi ke sakht qawaneen ke bawajood wo uske paas kaise aa jaati thi, yeh bhi nahi jaanta tha. Ilm tha to sirf ek baat ka, ke wo wahan thi jahan wo tanha tha.

“Koi nahi hai yahan. Kuch bhi nahi hai. Tum khwab mein darr gaye the. Relax,” khud se lagaye wo keh rahi thi.

Darwaze par koi khada tha. Wo ek naya chehra tha. Wo Jamila Daud se kuch pooch raha tha. Aur wo us se pooch rahi thi.

“Kya wo seene mein kahin dard mehsoos kar raha hai? Kya usey takleef ka ehsaas ho raha hai?” Uske lab khamosh the. Wajood laraz raha tha. Magar chehra tar tha.

Awaaz abhi bhi thi.

Goliyo ki...

Barish ki...

Tareek kothri mein...

Madham kahke ki awaz…

•••

Raat ke aakhri peher uski aankh khul gayi thi. Nazar bilkul samne sajda rez wujood par pari. Aur phir wo shahri reh gayi. Neem tareeki mein manzar badalne laga tha. Andhera ehsasat se ulajhne laga tha. Khauf ko jagane laga tha.

Tareek kothri, madhm sa kehka sawaliya lehja aur andaz aur goliya ki awaaz...

Uski peshaani paseene se tar ho gayi thi. Rangat safed ho rahi thi. Sase bhaari, wajood par ek kapkapi taari thi.

Usne safed chadar ko muthiyo mein bheench liya tha.

Wo sajde se uth kar baithi gayi thi, phir wo salaam pherne lagi thi. Kisi ehsaas ke tehat mud kar uski janib dekha. Be ikhtiyar apni jagah se uth khadi hui. Madhm ki neelgo roshni uske ta’assuraat numaya kar rahi thi.

Sanse leta unhi ko dekh raha tha. Wo khushk labo ko tar karti, aahistagi se qadam uthati us ke paas aayi thi. Uski aankhon ke ta'assur se dil kat gaya tha. Wo khaufzada lag raha tha. Mohtaat hokar wo uske paas baith gayi thi. Uska sakhti se bheencha hua haath apne haath mein liya. Haath kapkapa raha tha. Phir usne uthne ki koshish ki thi magar uth nahi pa raha tha.

"Lete raho," wo ek dum se pareshan hui thi.

"Light on kar dee"

Wo khaufzada tha, uska wajood kapkapa raha tha. Use saans lene mein dushwari ho rahi thi. Uske gaal aansuo se tar ho rahe the.

Jamila ne kamre ki lights on kar de. Jhuk kar usey apne hisaar mein le liya.

"Main tumhare paas hoon. Sab theek hai," uske gird apni girift mazboot kiye uski pusht par haath phirti, usey apne aaghosh mein sama liya.

"Wo… wo mujhe maar dege," uski saanse chadhi hui thi. Wo buri tarah se kapkapa raha tha.

Darwaza aahistagi se khula tha aur khula hi reh gaya tha. Qadmo ki harkat wahi tham gayi thi. Haath handle par thehar gaya tha.

"Koi tumhein kuch nahi kahega. Main hoon na tumhare paas. Just relax..." wo aankho mein tasalli liye usse keh rahi thi, use samjha rahi thi ke usey koi khauf aur khatra nahi hai. Wo ab mehfooz hai.

Magar wo mehfooz nahi tha. Wo ab kabhi bhi khud ko mehfooz tassur nahi kar sakta tha.

Yeh haadsa chhota nahi tha, yeh waqai mamooli nahi tha.

Wo use khud mein chhupaye barabar mein hi is tarah se neem daraaz ho gayi thi ta ke uska khauf kuch kam ho sake. Wo is dehshat bhari kefiyat se bahar nikal sake. Wo unki aaghosh mein khud ko mehfooz tasawar kar ke so gaya. Aur wahi hua tha. Jaise jaise wo mukhtalif duae aur ayaat parh kar phookti rahi thi, to wo such much pur sukoon ho kar so gaya tha.

Darwaze ka handle chhoda gaya tha. Dabay qadmo koi peeche ho gaya tha. Rahdari mein qadmo ki ab koi chhap nahi thi.

Wo jis ek chehre ko jaanta tha, ab us se munh nahi mod paa raha tha. Wo uske kaam karne gayi thi aur wo unhein karne de raha tha. Unke haath se khana kha raha tha. Unke saath lawn mein walk par ja raha tha. Wo uski dawaiyo ka ilm rakhti thi. Uske zakhmo ki dressing bhi wo karne lagi thi. Wo har kaam jo nurse ke zimmedar tha, unhone apne sar le liya tha. Wo usey jald az jald sehatmand dekhna chahti thi, wo pehle ki tarah hanse, bole, muskuraye. Unki dosti phir se parwan charhe, ta’alluq phir se bahaal ho. Uski aziyat khatam ho. Khauf kam ho.

Magar yeh sab aasaan nahi tha. Hargiz aasaan nahi tha.

Wo unki is koshish ko nakaam bana raha tha. Wo theek nahi hona chahta tha. Wo apne khauf ka samna nahi kar raha tha.

Uski khamoshi ka hisaar tab toota tha jab shaam ke aath baje usne kuch awaaze suni thi. Wo un awaazo ke ta’aqub mein uth kar kamray se bahar aaya tha aur pehli baar khud se aaya tha. Deewar ke saath qadam uthate kisi ma’nus awaaz ke samaat se takraye apni jagah ruk gaya tha. Awaaz baen janib se aa rahi thi.

Lounge mein koi Jamila Daud ke saath maujood tha. Woh us awaaz ko, lehje ko, andaaz ko bohot achi tarah pehchanta tha. Jamila Daud ki wapsi ki ticket confirm ho chuki thi. Azam Shirazi unhe wapas jaane ka keh rahe the, lekin woh inkaar kar rahi thi. Aur iss inkaar se ek behas chhid gayi thi.

"Agar maine tumhein Faris se milne diya hai toh iska hargiz yeh matlab nahi hai ke tum apni manmani kar sako. Kal tumhari flight hai aur tum apni family ke saath wapas ja rahi ho. And that's it!" Unka lehja mehkum tha aur awaaz mein rob tha.

"Ap ek maa se keh rahe hain ke woh apne beemar bache ko chhorh kar chali jaye?"

"Wo tumhara baccha nahi hai."

"Wo mera baccha hai," Jamila ne ek ek lafz pe zor dete hue bharrayi hui awaaz mein kaha.

"Nau saal ho gaye hain baba, aap abhi tak yeh baat nahi samajh paaye."

"JAMILA" Azam Shirazi ki muthiya Shakti se bheech gayi thi.

Unhone tahammul se unhein roka tha. Wo mazeed koi lafz nahi sunna chahte the. Sirf yeh chahte the ke Jamila unke saath ghar wapas chale. Lekin Jamila wahan se jaane ke liye tayar nahi thi.

Sirf isliye ke doctors ne safar se mana kiya tha, Faris ko ab tak London nahi bhej sake the. Warna ab tak yeh masla khatam ho chuka hota. Jamila Daud ke paas rakhne ka koi jawaz nahi bacha hota. Aur woh aise mutalibe ko haq bhi nahi rakhti.

"Tum Haroon ke saath nahi jaogi toh sawal uthaenge. Tumhein andaza hona chahiye ke hamare har move par nazar rakhi ja rahi hai. Khatra sirf Hammad ko nahi tha. Tum bhi iski lapait mein aa sakti ho. Haroon bhi, behtar yahi hoga ke tum yaha se chali jao…!"

"Aur Faris... usse yahan akela chhorh du?"

"Woh akela nahi hai. Mere aadmi uska khayal rakh sakte hain," Azam Shirazi ne kaha tha. Jamila Daud kuch lamho tak ankho mein nami liye wahan khadi rahi thi.

"Main America nahi jaungi," unka lehja hatmi tha.

Azam Shirazi ki peshani ki rage ubhar aayi thi. Lekin woh apne ghusse ko qaboo mein rakhe khade the.

"Tum koi mutalba karne ki position mein nahi ho," unhone sakht lehje mein kaha aur chal diye.

"Agar aap mujhe force karenge toh apne mayke chali jaungi, lekin Faris ko is halat mein chhod kar kahin nahi jaungi."

Azam Shirazi ke kadam rukh gaye. Unhone palat kar nahi dekha, lekin unka hairat aur sadma se.

Jamila Daud ke alfaaz hi aise the. Woh musalsal aankho mein be-yaqeeni liye unhein dekh rahe the.

Yeh pehli dafa tha ke Jamila Daud ne unka koi hukum is tarah se radd kiya tha. Pehli dafa aise lehje aur andaaz mein baat ki thi. Woh unhein iss lamhe kisi bhi tor apne hosh o hawaas mein nahi lag rahi thi.

Faris Wajdan, deewar par haath rakhe, bhaari saanso ke saath saqit khada tha. Azam Shirazi toh nazar nahi aa rahe the, lekin woh Jamila Daud ko dekh sakta tha. Woh ro rahi thi. Woh Azam Shirazi ke saamne uske liye ro rahi thi. Woh uske liye lad rahi thi.

Guzishta Pichle teen saal usne gusse mein guzare the. Usse Jamila Daud se naraazgi thi, bohot zyada naraazgi, woh abhi tak naraaz tha.

Woh unse koi baat nahi karta tha. Jawab nahi deta tha, nazar utha kar dekhta bhi nahi tha, aur ab woh dekh raha tha. Teen saal uske liye mushkil rahe the, toh Jamila Daud ke liye bhi woh waqt aasaan nahi raha tha.

"Yeh meri ghalti hai ke maine is ladke ko Shirazi Mansion mein rakha aur tumhe is se milne diya. Aur yeh bhi meri ghalti hai ke tumhe yahan uske paas aane ki ijaazat di," Azam Shirazi ki aankhein sholawar ho rahi thi. Lehja barf ki tarah thanda tha.

"Aap apni reham dili ko ghalti keh rahe hain?" Woh ek baar phir apni jagah jake the.

"Arzoo ka beta mere reham ka mustahiq nahi hai!" Kuch tehkar aur nafrat se unhone kaha.

Woh ladka na hota toh Jamila aaj is tarah na kar rahi hoti.

Jamila lab bheench kar unhein dekh kar reh gayi.

"Shayad tum bhool rahi ho ke yeh ladka meri zimmedari hai, aur mujhe ise zinda rakhna hi hai. Yahi wada tha."

Woh apne faisle par qaim the.

Baat kal bhi wade ki thi, aaj bhi wade ki thi.

Jamila nam aankho ke saath khadi thi.

"Aap phir se mera raabta us se band karwa denge? Phir se mujhe door kar dege?"

"Jo zaroori ho, main wahi karta hu. Nikaal do is ladke ko apne dimaag se, for God's sake!"

Unki awaaz ekdum se buland hui thi.

Jamila ka chehra aansuo se tar hone laga. Nazre jhuki gayi.

"Kaun karta hai aise jaise tum kar rahi ho?"

Woh chup rahi.

"Mujhe force mat karo ke main kuch aisa kar du jis pae tumhare paas sirf pachhtawa ke kuch na rahe."

Jamila ki siskiya bandh gayi.

"Na woh tumhara bacha hai, na hi tumhari zimmedari, ghar jao aur apni packing karo, Subah ki flight hai."

Jamila kuch der tak apni jagah khadi rahi. Kitni duae thi jo unhone Azam Shirazi ke dil ki narmi ke liye maangi thi. Ek zara sa ehsaas Faris ke liye ehsaas ki chaah ki thi. Itna bada haadsa ho gaya aur woh phir bhi apni jagah usi ana ke saath qaim the. Koi farq hi nahi pada tha.

Faris Wajdan be-aawaaz qadamo ke saath wapas palat gaya tha.

Woh kamre mein aayi toh woh samne hi bed par sar jhukaaye baitha tha. Unka toh khayal tha ke woh so raha hoga. Honto par muskurahat liye uske barabar mein aa baithi.

"Kya hua? Neend nahi aayi?"

Faris ne gardan modh kar unhe dekha. Unki aankhe rone ke bais suji hui lag rahi thi, magar labo par muskurahat hi thehri hui thi. Woh muntazir tha ab woh us se kya kehne wali thi. America jaane ke hawale se kya jawaz pesh karne wali thi, magar Jamila khamosh thi. Unke paas kehne ko kuch nahi tha. Woh kal ki flight se wapas jaane wali thi, yeh batane ke liye bhi koi lafz nahi tha. Himmat nahi thi.

Wo hamesha hi use chhorh kar chali jaati thi jab use sabse zyada zarurat hoti thi. Baar baar palke jhapkate hue, aankho ki nami daba rahi thi. Gala khankhaarke, badqismati se muskurate hue, woh khud ko is kefiyat se nikalne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

Unhe andaza tha ke ab ke agar woh naraaz hoga toh phir kabhi nahi mane ga. Ab ke woh usse hamesha hamesha ke liye khone wali thi.

Unhe ilm nahi tha ke jo itne dino se khamosh tha, woh aaj haqeeqatan khamoshi todne wala tha. Uske dil se bhaari bojh utarne wala tha.

"Main Dr. Mustafa se milna chahta hu" uske lab hile.

Woh chonk kar usey dekhne lage, Itne dino baad Faris ne unse baat ki thi. Ab toh khushi bhi dil ko bhaari kar rahi thi.

"Aap toh waise bhi chali jaegi. Toh main soch raha tha ke..." woh ek hi tasalsul mein apni baat mukammal nahi kar pa raha tha. "Main soch raha tha ke main unke paas chala jau."

Jamila Daud apni jagah baithi reh gayi.

"Kya isne Azam Shirazi ke saath hone wali hamari baat sun li thi?" Unke andar gham barh gaya. Dil tadap gaya.

"Kya sari ki sari sakht baate usne is halat me apne kaano se sun li thi?"

"Dr. Mustafa ke paas?" Unki aankhe dhundhla rahi thi. Awaaz bheeg rahi thi.

Faris ka sar jhuka hua tha, jaise uski aadat thi. Woh unke dupatte ka paloo apne haathon mein le chuka tha, jaise ke hamesha liya karta tha.

"Unhone ek dafa mujhe kaha tha ke woh mujhe apne saath rakh sakte hain aur hostel mein bhi milne aate the."

Jamila apne rone par qabu paaye chup rahi. Unke liye wahan baithna mushkil ho raha tha. Faris ko dekhna mushkil ho raha tha.

"Haan mein, Mein Agha se baat karungi ke woh Dr. Mustafa se tumhara raabta karwa de." unhone ungli ki pusht se baayen aankh ka aansoo saaf kiya.

"Par aap jaane se pehle mil kar toh jaengi?" Sar utha kar unki aankhon mein dekhte hue poocha.

Apne aap par jabr karte, aansuo par sabr ka pehra lagate, unhe dekh kar reh gayi. Woh unhe jaane ki ijaazat de raha tha. Zaahir kar raha tha jaise koi farq nahi padta. Jaise uske liye yeh koi badi baat nahi thi. Woh sab khud se manage kar lega. Woh unke liye wapsi ka safar aasan kar raha tha, apne tareeqe se unhe alvida keh raha tha.

Jamila Daud ko woh apni umr se ekdam bada aur zyada samajhdaar laga. Us raat woh bhaari dil ke saath ghar wapas aayi thi. Us raat woh bawajood koshish ke bhi so nahi saki thi.

Woh ek dafa pehle bhi usse chhod kar gayi thi. Ek dafa phir usse chhod kar ja rahi thi. Faris ne milne ka kaha tha magar woh usse milne nahi aayi thi. Ek dafa phir alvida kehne ki himmat nahi thi. Pichli dafa wado ka sahara tha, raabta ki tasalli thi, wapas aane ka iraada tha. Aur woh kisi ek amal mein bhi kaamyaab nahi ho saki thi. Ab ke unke paas kuch nahi tha, na koi ahd, na dene ko koi umeed, tasalli aur na hi mulaqat ka wada. Unhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata tha ke ab dobara Pakistan kab aane wali thi.

Jaane se pehle unhone Agha Ali se zaroor baat ki thi. Woh chahti thi ke Agha, Dr. Mustafa se Faris ki mulaqat karwa de. Magar Agha Azam Shirazi ke faislon ka paband tha. Faris ki kisi se bhi baat nahi karwa sakta tha.

"Shayad aapko ilm nahi hai magar wahan sab hi jaante hain ke Faris mar chuka hai," Shirazi House ke lawn mein Jamila Daud apni jagah khadi reh gayi thi. Unhe apni samaat par yaqeen nahi aaya tha. Unhe Azam Shirazi ke is faisle ki bhi samajh nahi aayi thi.

"Mar chuka hai?" Unke lab kapkapaye. Dil laraz utha tha.

"Sab yahi jaante hain. Sab mulazim, guards bhi." Agha Ali sar jhukaye, modab sa keh raha tha.

"Yeh zaroori tha..." magar Jamila ne haath utha kar usay rok diya. Mazeed kuch sunne ki tabiyat nahi thi. Azam Shirazi ab kya kar rahe the, jaane ka ishtiyaq nahi tha.

Agha kehna chahta tha ke Faris ki zindagi abhi bhi khatre se khali nahi thi. Jin logon ne usey agwa kiya tha, woh uske peeche dobara bhi aa sakte thay. Ek zarasi bhanak ke woh zinda hai, bohot se masail kharay kar sakti thi.

Faris ne unka chehra dekha tha, isliye usey marne ki koshish ki gayi thi. Magar Jamila Daud ko jaise ab koi tafseel nahi chahiye thi. Faris Wajdan ka woh aakhri mutalba unhe har soorat poora karna tha. Behtar tha ke woh is mahaul se nikal jaye. Azam Shirazi ke qahar bhare hisar se nikal jaye.

Usne agha se Mudhat ka number le liya. Usse call ki. Usse Dr. Mustafa ke baare mein poocha. Do mahine pehle tak woh Quetta mein hi thay magar ab woh wahan nahi thay. Unka ghar bhi band, clinic bhi band tha.

Woh kahan chale gaye the, kisi ko is baat ka ilm nahi tha.

"Jab bhi tumhari unse baat ho, mera yeh number unhein de dena." Saath hi apna number likhwa diya. "Aur yeh baat sirf hum dono ke darmiya rehni chahiye. Tum mere liye itna toh kar hi sakti ho?"

"App befikr rahe, kisi ko kuch nahi bataungi!" Mudhat ne yakeen dilaya tha.

Unki flight America ke liye rawana hui toh laga ke dil wahi reh gaya hai. Sukoon khatam. Beqaraari har ang mein sama gayi thi.

Woh Faris Wajdan se aakhri dafa mile bagair hi ja rahi thi. Aur yeh haqeeqat unke wujood par, unki rooh par bohot bhaari ho rahi thi.

"Aarzoo Jahangir ke betay ke liye mere dil mein koi reham nahi hai," woh bedside se tek kar carpet par ghutno se thori lagaye baitha tha. Kamra roshan tha. Khidkiyan bhi khuli hui thi. Hawa mein lehrate makhmal ke parde hil rahe thay. Khidkiyo se sar sabz lawn ke us paar brown rang ka bara gate nazar aata tha.

Woh gate aaj subah se band tha. Koi gaadi hudood mein daakhil nahi hui thi. Koi usey alvida karne nahi aaya tha. Usne baithe baithe apna sar uthaya.

"Shayad tum bhool rahi ho ke yeh ladka meri zimmedaari hai aur mujhe isay zinda rakhna hi hai. Yahi waada tha." Zimmedaari, zindagi aur waada.

Weeran aankhe namnak hone lagi. Khamosh labon par gham thehra gaya.

Darwaza khula hua tha. Haider wahan se guzar raha tha toh chonk kar ruk gaya. Us waqt andar aa gaya. Kamray ki khidkiya usne band kar dein. Parde bhi phela diye. Usey ek pal mein inkishaaf hua tha ke usne aaj raat ki medicine nahi li thi. Tabhi woh raat ke is pehar tak jaag raha tha. Usey Faris par bharosa karne par afsos hua tha. Ab samajh mein aaya ke Jamila Daud usey apne haath se hi dawa kyu khilati thi.

"Aapko ab aaraam karna chahiye." Woh uski haqeeqat se kuch had tak waqif tha, tabhi lehje aur andaaz se adab jhalakta tha.

Aisa adab jiska woh mustahiq nahi tha. Usne Haider ki taraf dekha. Woh paani ke saath dawaiyan pesh kar raha tha. Faris kuch der tak aadhe khaali, aadhe bhare hue glass ko dekhta raha, phir usne le liya. Jaanta tha ke aise neend jald aane wali thi. Aise dard jald mitne wala tha. Jo thakaawat wujood mein utar chuki thi, woh aise khatam nahi ho sakti thi. Jis jazbati halat ka samna kar raha tha, usse bachne ka aur koi rasta nahi tha.

Jab Faris so gaya, Haider kamre ki lights off karte hue ruk gaya. Usey Jamila Daud ki hidayat yaad aayi. Bahar nikalte hue darwaza khula chhod diya. Shirazi House mukammal andhere mein doob gaya tha, magar woh aik kamra subah tak roshan raha tha.

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